ANTONIO JOLI | Venice, the Bacino di San Marco looking east with the Punta della Dogana and San Giorgio Maggiore

The following condition report is provided by Henry Gentle who is an external specialist and not an employee of Sotheby's: Antonio Joli View of Venice Oil on canvas, in ornate gilt frame in good condition. The original canvas is lined. There is a bulging of the canvas along the bottom edge which is likely to be debris trapped between canvas and stretcher bar. Raised stretcher marks are visible, along with two raised parallel ridges to the right of the central stretcher mark denoting minor damage to the reverse of the canvas and resulting in very slight instability of the paint along the top of these ridges. The paint layer is very well preserved. Under raking light the surface is slightly raised but stable. Under UV light a scattering of restorations can be detected across the surface where reduction of the prominence of the stretcher marks has been undertaken. Dark shrinkage cracking is apparent and there has been a small amount of reduction in an area top left where the ground colour has become dominant. The paint texture is very well preserved, particularly the raised paint of the highlighted areas and the bravura brushwork in the clouds, which has not been affected by any previous conservation intervention. The more vulnerable details such to those of the figures, rigging and shadows are in a good original state. Subtle gradations of tone in the sea and the sky are retained. Removing the discoloured varnish would benefit the overall tonality and reveal colours that are vibrant and saturate strongly.
"This lot is offered for sale subject to Sotheby's Conditions of Business, which are available on request and printed in Sotheby's sale catalogues. The independent reports contained in this document are provided for prospective bidders' information only and without warranty by Sotheby's or the Seller."